New PracticesThis web site opens doors to the new bodies of thought, time-tested spiritual practices, and pioneering group methods, that I find to be powerful inspirations to understanding and action. I share these resources in service to the revolution of our time: the "Great Turning" from the industrial growth society to a life-sustaining civilization.http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices.html
Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:27:24 +0000Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Managementen-gbIntroductionhttp://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/70-thewholespiral/78-introduction.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/70-thewholespiral/78-introduction.html

The central plot-line of this work follows a spiral of four elements: gratitude, honouring pain for the world, seeing with new eyes, and going forth. I've found the combination, and sequence, of these elements allows the emergence of something much more than the sum of the parts.

At a talk I gave recently, I asked people to divide in pairs and listen to each other completing the following sentences.

"Things I love about our world include..."

"Concerns I have about our world include..."

"A perspective I find inspiring or refreshing is..."

"Steps I can take to participate in the Great Turning include..."

This was a short and simple way of moving through these four elements. With two minutes for each sentence, it took about ten minutes each way, yet the process deeply touched many of those present. I've also used these four starts to sentences in my personal journaling, starting a fresh page with each one. Whenever I'm not sure what to write, I just start the sentence again and see what naturally follows. It has been liberating, a time of kindling the spark.

An amazing gift: when I gave the dharma talk at the Common Ground Meditation Center last Friday night, I opened with the Redwoods meditation. During the reception, a young man came up and thanked me heartily for bringing the Redwood into our beings as I did. He had lived in solitude for a month in top of a Redwood and then spent 6 more months with other tree people in a forest. Nick and I are going to have tea together this week and talk about what kind of a piece we can put together and take into the community. Exciting! It was such an honor to present your teachings, Joanna, to about 110 people in a 2 hour sit and dharma talk. The center director told me it was one of the most moving dharma talks they've had. So, just another little story for you about how your work is moving through the world. Love, Kaia

Make a selection of 6 of these life forms (e.g., Sun, Waters, Fish, Plants)

Get everybody into small groups of 3 or 4 people

Leader reads one thanksgiving greeting: For example: "We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms--waterfall and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water."

Then, in the small groups, each person describes one precious thing that they cherish about that life form, sharing how they experience it and what it means to them.

The sharing is done popcorn style (in no particular order) within the group.

When all have had a chance to speak (3 minutes should be enough) everyone repeats together the traditional words: "And now our minds are one."

After a pause, go on to the next life form, and repeat all steps.

*Originally published as Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World by The Tracking Project, P.O. Box 266, Corrales, NM 87048]]>joanna@joannamacy.net (Joanna Macy)Coming from GratitudeWed, 09 Sep 2009 13:23:40 +0000Gratitude Open Sentenceshttp://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/71-comingfromgratitude/178-gratitudeopensentences.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/71-comingfromgratitude/178-gratitudeopensentences.html1. Some things I love about being alive in Earth are…

2. A place that was magical (or wonderful) to me as a child was….

3. A person who helped me believe in myself is or was….

4. Some things I enjoy doing and making are….

5. Some things I appreciate about myself are…

]]>joanna@joannamacy.net (Joanna Macy)Coming from GratitudeWed, 09 Sep 2009 13:12:03 +0000The Haudenosaunee Protocolhttp://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/71-comingfromgratitude/77-the-haudenosaunee-protocol.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/71-comingfromgratitude/77-the-haudenosaunee-protocol.htmlWe offer salutations and respect to all present at this meeting and to all who will be affected by it.

We brush off the chairs on which we sit--to make a clear space for a meeting of minds.

We brush off from our clothing any debris picked up on the way--to clear our minds of extraneous matters.

We wipe the blood from our hands--to acknowledge and apologize for any hurt we have inflicted.

We wipe the tears from our eyes--to acknowledge and forgive any hurt we have received.

We take the lump out of our throats--to let go of any sadness or disappointment.

We take the tightness out of our chests--to let go of any fear or resentment.

We acknowledge and pray for guidanceto the Great Creator Spirit of All Life.

Ho. So be it.

(This version is adapted by Ralph Metzner)]]>joanna@joannamacy.net (Joanna Macy)Coming from GratitudeMon, 10 Aug 2009 14:32:05 +0000The Great Unraveling (small groups)http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/179-thegreatunravelingsmall-groups.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/179-thegreatunravelingsmall-groups.htmlThis is a simple sharing exercise for Honoring Our Pain for the World, and follows on an exposition of the the Great Turning and the Great Unraveling. Allow some 30 minutes. Have people cluster in threes or foursomes and tell each other how in their own lives they experience the collective hardships of our time, be they environmental, economic, or social. It is rare that people get a chance to report and reflect on these realities without appearing to complain or assign blame.

Invite them to sit close and take turns reporting to each other in response to a single question: In what ways do you experience in your own life the Great Unraveling (or the planetary crisis)? Find your own phrasing. Let them speak in turn, following each other, and give them enough time to go around their little circle more than once.

At the conclusion I like to invite people to take notice of the fact that all the concerns they mentioned extend beyond the personal ego, far beyond their individual needs and wants. These concerns demonstrate their capacity to "suffer with" their world, which is an evolutionary advance--and the literal meaning of compassion. It is the fuel we need for the Great Turning.

This short exercise brings up a lot of energy and can add more authenticity to our despair work. By exaggerating and venting feelings of disconnection, even indifference, which are inevitable in our mass culture, we can achieve greater honesty and sense of wholeness for all that follows.

To weep and rage over the conditions of our world can be a profound release. It can also cause some of us to wonder if we are being entirely honest. "If I care so damn much, why haven't I done something about it?" And sometimes we simply do not feel, at the moment, the degree of grief, concern, or caring that others are expressing. We can wonder then, if we are deficient--lacking in rudimentary compassion--and the sense of numbing or inadequacy can intensify.

"The despair I feel," said Tom in a workshop at Columbia University, "is that I don't feel despair. My heart feels like a rock. I'm afraid I don't care the way the rest of you do." The rest of us that day were soon grateful for his confession, because it triggered the invention of this process. It ignited much hilarity, and became known for a while as "I am a Rock."

It is good to do before, not after an intensive despair work process.

Description
]]>joanna@joannamacy.net (Joanna Macy)Honoring Our Pain in the WorldWed, 09 Sep 2009 13:08:42 +0000Cathy's Circlehttp://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/177-cathyscircle.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/177-cathyscircle.htmlI set the stage for the ritual and we had low lights and candles and pillows in the center of the circle. We began walking counterclockwise with people reporting some of the horrors that we live with on this planet. When emotions arose, people went into the center and screamed or cried or just sat as long as they needed to, then rejoined the outer circle that kept walking. I allowed this circle to go on for 20 to 30 minutes as people were really getting into it. At a good stopping place I had everyone stop, find a comfortable place to sit and close their eyes. I then led them in a guided meditation, connecting with energies of earth and sky, allowing them to feel whatever was on the surface and let it wash away. I then set the scenario that when they opened their eyes again, it would be fifty years hence and there had been many changes and miracles in the world and people were now living sustainable, in harmony and balance with all beings. We then all arose and began walking in the circle, this time in the opposite direction, and reporting on what life was like in this positive future from the personal to the collective. It was quite amazing what ensued. People reported things like they stayed home and tended gardens, lived close to loved ones in a small village, biked everywhere or shared alternative energy cars, drummed and danced and told stories each night by the fire, TV had gone extinct, cows were pets and not food, all produce was local and organic, governing bodies were teams, no more nuclear power, etc. etc. Some people danced with glee into the middle of the circle and laughed, some people cried at how much they wanted life to be like this. I allowed the same amount of time for this circle as the despair one. We ended by coming together in circler holding hands, closing eyes while I guided them to see our visions and energies spreading out over the planet and touching the consciousness of all beings. Then opening eyes and giving thanks for all that we had and for each person in the circle.

People were very excited, hopeful and engaged with each other at the end of the evening. Many expressed thanks and wanted to use this process with other groups. I decided to call it 'Walking Through', which is what we did, walk through all the pain, sorrows despair, anger, joy, hope, love.

- Cathy Pedevillano

]]>joanna@joannamacy.net (Joanna Macy)Honoring Our Pain in the WorldWed, 09 Sep 2009 13:10:24 +0000The Bowl of Tearshttp://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/76-thebowloftears.html
http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects/newpractices/72-honoringourpainintheworld/76-thebowloftears.htmlThis is fine for any size group. Just pour water into a clear glass bowl. Let it represent for you and for the others our tears for the world and all beings. And invite each person, as they pass the bowl to each other, or as they come and sit or kneel before it, to scoop up some water and let it trickle through their fingers. As they do, they can say: "My tears are for…."

Here's a description of this process with a large assembly:

With 250 people participating, we were challenged to invent new forms, especially for the part that's most intense: Honoring Our Pain for theWorld. That session began with poetry and spoken reflections on the power, liberation, and solidarity that comes with owning our collective grief. Then people clustered in foursomes to tell of their experience of the "great unraveling." After that they sang together, over and over like a chant, words of Adrienne Rich put to music by Carolyn McDade.